Brassiere



Jan. 30, 1951 l, F, BASCH 2,539,396

BRASSIERE Filed Nov. 28, 1947 Je@ fl ff Patented Jan. 30, 1951 2,539,396 BRAssIRE Inga F. Basch, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Herman Freudenberg, New York, N. Y.

Application November 28, 1947, Serial No. 788,580

7 Claims.

This invention relates to brassire and similar bust shaping structures and more particularly to divider orbridge device for use in connection with such structures.

Heretofore known bridge devices of the wire type which were inserted in channels or pockets of brassires have the disadvantage of not allowing the wearer of the brassire to freely move and breathe comfortably, sin-ce these known appliances although providing a lateral support for the breast do not give in sideward directions and do not follow the natural movements of the breast during breathing, stooping and Stretching.

The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages and has as one of its objects the provision of means ensuring ready adjustment of the divider or bridge member at its base according to the size of the cups of the brassire to which it is applied, and further ensuring movability of the bust-dividing wire members relatively to the base in which these wire members are journalled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means permitting the interchangeability of the parts of which the divider member consists and exibility of those parts which support the breast in separated and spaced relation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means facilitating inexpensive manufacture and quick assembly of the parts of which the divider member consists so as to adopt the same t various bust sizes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means rendering the possibility of detachably securing the divider member to the brassire or like bust support for cleaning or laundering purposes, the securement being effectuated by means of a clip or similar device which is preferably adapted to embellish the front appearance of the brassire.

Other objects of. the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and preferred modes which have been contemplated for applying said principle.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brassire mad in accordance with the invention and in applied condition.

Fig. 2 is a front View partly in section of th bridge member made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view (with parts broken away and partly in section) of `the bridge member made in accordance with this invention as applied to the rear part of the brassire.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows the lower part of the bridge member partly in section and in a .modified form.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a brassire I E3 having the bandeau or main portion il encircling the body of the wearer and th-e cups i2 and E3. Seated within the center of portion !I and upwardly i extending therefrom along the side edges i4, I5 of cups I2 and I3 is the bridge member It, which is shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. This bridge member I5 consists principally of a base I'i which is U-shaped and of tubular formation. As seen in Fig. 2 the yoke I8 extends crosswise to the upward sleeves or legs i9 and 2t of the base. Legs I9 and 2U rotatably receive the reduced ends 2| and 22 of upwardly extending outwardly curved elements or extensions 23, 24 which may be made of wire, plastic composition or of any other material which is substantially springy and yieldable for the purpose intended. These extensions divide and support adjacent side portions Of the breasts, as it is well understood.

The reduced ends 2i and 22 of elements 23, 24 are, respectively, provided with recesses or similar formations 25, 26 which engage inwardly projecting formations 2, 2S, respectively, provided in legs I9 and 20 of the bridge member I'I.

Formations 2'I and 2S may suitably be obtained by pinching the material of which legs i9 and 2U consist, around these recessed formations 25 and 26, so that bearings for the elements 23 and 24 are obtained which are rotatably supported by said bearings, from which these elements may be removed, if desired.

This swivel connection of curved elements 23 and 24 with base Ii is of importance in so far as these elements 23 and 2li may readily follow the movements of the breasts during breathing,

' as well as during bending and stretching actions of the upper body parts, (as indicated by arrows A, B and by dot and dash line positions of elements 23 and 24, respectively).

A typical example for the attachment of the divider or bridge member I6 to the brassire IE) is illustrated in Fig, 3. The divider I6, in this instance, is associated with a clip 32, which is adapted to extend at the front panel of the bandeau II, and is swingably connected to the yoke or transverse member I8 of the U-shaped base or bridge element I'I. As can be seen from Fig. 4 clip 30 has a finger grip 3l and a circular or hinge piece 32 which extends around transverse member I8 of base I'I. VSpaced apart recesses 33 are provided in the circumference of the yoke or member I8 with which the circular hinge part 32 of the clip 3Q coacts, which is provided with projections or indentations 34 and 55. These projections register, respectively, with said recesses 33 in the upright and closed position of clip 3U, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to insert clip 3D in and to attach divider I6 to the brassire a pocket 4G is formed rearwardly of the bandeau Il (Fig. 3). This pocket 40 is open at the lower end of fabric wall 35 which is stitched at 3l and 38 to the rear face of the bandeau II. Wall 35 is further attached at 39, but for the openings 4I and 42 employed for the passage of legs I9, 2|] and elements 23 and 24. As can be further seen from Fig. 3 the outer diameter of each of the wire or like elements 23 and 24, in this instance, is substantially equal to the outerdiameter of said legs i9 and 25J.

Bandeau II is provided with a slot or similar opening 45 through which clip 3l) of dividei` I5 may be passed for position in front of the bandeau II, as seen in Figs. l and Li; legs i and 2G as well as elements 23 and 24 of the divider IB may simultaneously be slipped under pocket wall 36 for the insertion in pocket 45 and to extend in the direction of openings 4I and 42.

The elements 23 and 24 further project and areI held in position within respective channels 43 and 44 provided along the adjacent side edges I4 and I5 of the brassire cups I2 and I3. It will be observed that channels 33 Vand 34 although holding in place elements 23 and 2d will nevertheless be wide enough to permit a certain play and movement ior elements 23 and 24 within said channels.

Clip 30, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, is of such width and of such curved shape at its forward lateral ends 300. and 35D that the latter come to lie tightly on the legs i9 and 25 of the base I'I and engage the material of the bandeau II, (if I desired, by means of pointed teeth, not shown) which is positioned between said curved ends 30a and Sill) and legs i9 and 25 and adjacent parts of extensions 23, 24 (Figs. 3 and 5).

Thus it will become apparent that the clip 3|] (whose front face may bear any ornamentation `or serve as a name plate) will provide a suitable cover or closure flap for the divider or bridge member I6, will embellish the front part of the brassire and facilitate the mounting and removal of the bridge member i5 from the brassire or similar garment to which it will be applied.

Pocket wall 36 has been partly removed at the left hand side of the pocket 40 and leg I5 of the divider base I'I has been shown partly in section to clarify the relative position of the parts of the divider.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the tubular, U-shaped base, which is designated by nul ,meral 55, the'divider or bridge member being Ia.

This base consists of two substantially identical L-shaped parts 5l vand 52 which are interconnected by .a stud or spacer 53 of predetermined length and shape, this stud spacing the adjacent ends 54 and 55 oi tubular parts 5I and 52 from each other to bring about a predetermined width of the yoke of U-.shaped base 55 with respect to `the remainder of bridge member Ia.

vIf it is desired to arrive at a larger width of the 4 yoke of base 50 a stud or spacer 53a oi greater length than that of the stud 53 may be employed to interconnect parts 5I and 52, respectively. Stud 53, as well as stud 53a, have reduced ends 56 and 5'I with recesses 5B and 59 which coact with inwardly projecting annular portions 60, 6I provided at adjacent ends 54 and 55 of aforesaid L-shaped parts 5I and 52. These annular projecting portions may springedly engage recesses 58 and 59 or the material of tubular portions 5I and 52 which may be so pinched onto recesses 58 and 59 of the respective spacer that these portions 5I and 52 will be permanently attached to the respective stud ends. It is well understood, that other means may be employed to regulate and to adjust the width of the base 50 of the divider member Ia. For example, a threaded bolt or a bolt and pin connection may be employed to readily lengthen or shorten the yoke of the U-shaped base of the divider member in accordance with respective sizes of the cups of the brassire.

It goes without saying, that according to the construction of Fig. 6 all the parts of the divider member Ia, namely L-shaped portions 5l and 52, intermediate spacer member 53 and upwardly rand outwardly diverging divider means or elements 23 and 24 may be easily and readily assembled and disassembled and rotative movements of the divider parts may be eifectuated independently of each other by spaced swivel means at points oi articulation 25, 26 and 50, 6I of the divider member Ia consequently about at least two axes which are angularly disposed with respect to each other.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided in accordance with this invention a divider or bridge device to be inserted in channels extending substantially along adjacent side edges `of the cups of a brassire, which bridge device comprises a base and breast dividing means swiveledly joined to said base, whereby said dividing means are capable of following movements of the breast and upper body parts substantially in any directions thereof.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbeiore set iorth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A supporting device `for brassires, corselets and like garments comprising a U-shaped base member provided with a yoke and with legs extending from said yoke, breast dividing elements engaging said legs, first swivel means connecting said elements with and supporting the latter on said legs for rotative movement of each of said elements thereto, and second swivel means incorporated in said yoke to thereby permit iurther movement of said elements independently of each other and in a direction angular to said rotative movement.

r2. A mounting device for brassires comprising a U-shaped base member, said base member being provided with two L-shaped parts, an elongated spacer member having opposite ends and interconnecting said parts to form the yoke of said base member, respective interengageable formations on adjacent ends of said parts and on said opposite `ends of said spacer member, said formations permitting said parts to swing with respect to each other about the axis of said elongated spacer member, and a breast dividing element swivelledly connected to each L -shaped part of said base member and movable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said first named axis.

3. A mounting device for brassires, according to claim 2, wherein said spacer member is interchangeably attached with its opposite ends to the adjacent ends of said L-shaped parts` of said base member.

4. In a bridge device for application to a brassire; a substantially U-shaped member having a yoke, breast supporting extensions projecting from said U-shaped member, and swingable securing means rotatable about and retained on said yoke, said securing means forming a hinged clip in conjunction with said yoke and being adapted to coact with said extensions to maintain the latter in position with respect to said U-shaped member.

5. A device for use in connection with a breast support having an opening intermediate the cups of said breast support; comprising a bridge element provided with a transverse member, and with socket members extending angularly from said transverse member, and a clip member mounted for swinging movement about said transverse member and adapted to pass through said opening in said breast support for position at the front of the latter, to thereby attach said bridge element in position on said support.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said sockets are of substantially round tubular cross section, said clip member being provided with two curved lateral ends adapted to register with said sockets of said bridge element.

7. A device according to claim 5, including a pair of extensions adapted to engage said sockets, respectively, and for rotation thereon and for removal therefrom, said clip member extending toward said extensions to engage the latter.

INGA F. BASCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 12, 1934 

